Oscars Bosses Apologize for Farrah Fawcett In Memoriam Exclusion

Following their decision to cast out Farrah Fawcett from the annual In Memoriam of Oscars, the ceremony's bosses have delivered their apology for the snub.

Photo credit: LK/WENN

Academy Awards bosses have officially apologized to Farrah Fawcett's family for leaving the late actress out of a tribute at the recent ceremony on March 7. The "Charlie's Angels" star, who lost her battle with cancer in 2009, was not included in the annual In Memoriam list at the show, which honors stars who have died in the last 12 months.

The snub sparked outrage, with Fawcett's longtime lover Ryan O'Neal announcing plans to write a letter to Oscars bosses demanding an explanation, and his daughter Tatum O'Neal admitting she was "deeply saddened" by the move. Bruce Davis, the executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, subsequently defended the decision to leave Fawcett out of the tribute, calling it the "single most troubling element of the Oscar show every year."

And now he has officially apologized for the snub. Davis says, "There's nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all. They tend to be surprised and hurt, and we understand that and we're sorry for it."